Realme 8i: A Deep Dive into the Budget Performer
The Realme 8i, launched amidst a flurry of budget-friendly smartphones, aimed to carve a niche by offering a compelling blend of features at an accessible price point. This comprehensive review delves into every aspect of the device, examining its design, display, performance, camera capabilities, battery life, and overall value proposition.
The Realme 8i adopts a design language consistent with its predecessors, featuring a plastic build that prioritizes durability over premium materials. However, Realme has introduced subtle refinements to enhance its visual appeal.
The Back Panel: A Glossy Canvas with Dynamic Light Effects
The rear panel, crafted from polycarbonate, boasts a glossy finish that catches and reflects light, creating dynamic patterns. This “Dynamic Design,” as Realme calls it, adds a touch of sophistication to the otherwise standard plastic construction. While the glossy surface is prone to fingerprints and smudges, the included transparent case mitigates this issue. The camera module, housed in a rectangular bump, protrudes slightly, but not excessively.
The Frame and Button Placement: Ergonomic Considerations
The frame, also made of plastic, provides a secure grip. The power button, integrated with a capacitive fingerprint sensor, is conveniently located on the right side, while the volume rockers reside on the left. The bottom edge houses a 3.5mm headphone jack, a USB Type-C port, and a single speaker grille.
Overall Build Quality: Robust and Practical
Despite its plastic construction, the Realme 8i feels solid and well-built. The device is comfortable to hold and use for extended periods. The design, while not groundbreaking, is functional and visually appealing, especially considering its price range.
The Realme 8i features a 6.6-inch Full HD+ (2412 x 1080 pixels) LCD display with a 120Hz adaptive refresh rate. This is a standout feature in this price segment, offering a significantly smoother visual experience compared to standard 60Hz displays.
The 120Hz Refresh Rate: Fluidity and Responsiveness
The 120Hz refresh rate makes scrolling, animations, and gaming feel incredibly fluid and responsive. The adaptive refresh rate intelligently adjusts the display’s refresh rate based on the content being displayed, optimizing battery life.
The LCD Panel: Decent Color Reproduction and Brightness
The LCD panel delivers decent color reproduction and brightness. While it may not match the vibrancy and contrast of AMOLED displays, it provides a satisfactory viewing experience for everyday tasks and multimedia consumption. The viewing angles are also respectable.
The Punch-Hole Camera: Minimizing Distractions
The punch-hole cutout for the front camera is relatively small and unobtrusive, minimizing distractions during viewing.
Overall Display Performance: A Highlight of the Device
The 120Hz refresh rate is undoubtedly the highlight of the Realme 8i’s display. It elevates the user experience and sets it apart from many of its competitors.
The Realme 8i is powered by the MediaTek Helio G96 processor, a chipset designed for gaming and performance-oriented tasks. It is paired with up to 6GB of RAM and 128GB of internal storage, expandable via a dedicated microSD card slot.
The Helio G96: Capable Performance for Everyday Tasks and Gaming
The Helio G96 delivers smooth performance for everyday tasks, such as browsing, social media, and video playback. It can also handle moderately demanding games at medium settings.
RAM and Storage: Ample Memory and Expandability
The 6GB of RAM ensures smooth multitasking and app switching. The 128GB of internal storage provides ample space for apps, photos, and videos, and the microSD card slot allows for further expansion.
Software: Realme UI 2.0 Based on Android 11
The Realme 8i runs on Realme UI 2.0, based on Android 11. Realme UI offers a clean and customizable interface with a variety of useful features.
Overall Performance: A Reliable Performer for the Price
The Realme 8i delivers reliable performance for its price range. It can handle everyday tasks and even some gaming without significant lag or stuttering.
The Realme 8i features a triple camera setup on the rear, headlined by a 50MP primary sensor. The other two sensors include a 2MP macro lens and a 2MP depth sensor.
The 50MP Main Sensor: Decent Image Quality in Daylight
The 50MP main sensor captures decent images in daylight conditions, with good detail and dynamic range. However, the image quality deteriorates in low-light conditions.
The Macro and Depth Sensors: Limited Utility
The 2MP macro and depth sensors offer limited utility. The macro lens struggles to capture sharp and detailed close-up shots, while the depth sensor primarily assists with portrait mode.
The Front Camera: 16MP Selfie Shooter
The 16MP front camera captures decent selfies in good lighting conditions.
Camera Software: Feature-Rich but Inconsistent
The camera software offers a variety of features, including night mode, portrait mode, and AI scene recognition. However, the image processing can be inconsistent, and the overall image quality is not exceptional.
Overall Camera Performance: Adequate for Casual Photography
The Realme 8i’s camera performance is adequate for casual photography. It can capture decent shots in daylight, but it struggles in low-light conditions.
The Realme 8i is equipped with a 5000mAh battery, which provides excellent battery life. It can easily last a full day of moderate to heavy usage.
Battery Performance: All-Day Endurance
The 5000mAh battery, combined with the power-efficient Helio G96 processor, delivers impressive battery life. Users can expect to get a full day of usage on a single charge, even with heavy usage.
Charging: 18W Fast Charging
The device supports 18W fast charging, which allows for relatively quick top-ups. However, it is not as fast as the charging speeds offered by some of its competitors.
Overall Battery Life: A Major Strength
The Realme 8i’s excellent battery life is one of its major strengths, making it an ideal choice for users who prioritize longevity.
The Realme 8i runs on Realme UI 2.0, based on Android 11. Realme UI offers a clean and customizable interface with a variety of useful features.
Realme UI 2.0: Clean and Customizable
Realme UI 2.0 is a user-friendly interface that offers a variety of customization options, including themes, wallpapers, and icon packs.
Pre-installed Apps: Bloatware Presence
The device comes with a few pre-installed apps, some of which can be uninstalled.
Overall Software Experience: Smooth and Functional
Realme UI 2.0 provides a smooth and functional user experience. It is relatively bloatware-free and offers a variety of useful features.
The Realme 8i offers standard connectivity options, including Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS, and a USB Type-C port.
Connectivity Options: Dual SIM and microSD Card Slot
The device supports dual SIM cards and has a dedicated microSD card slot for storage expansion.
Fingerprint Sensor: Fast and Accurate
The side-mounted fingerprint sensor is fast and accurate.
Overall Connectivity and Features: Standard and Functional
The Realme 8i offers standard connectivity options and features that are functional and reliable.
The Realme 8i offers a compelling blend of features at an affordable price. Its 120Hz display, long-lasting battery life, and reliable performance make it a strong contender in the budget smartphone segment.
Pricing and Availability: Competitive Pricing
The Realme 8i is priced competitively, making it accessible to a wide range of consumers.
Overall Value: Excellent Value for Money
The Realme 8i offers excellent value for money. It provides a smooth user experience, long battery life, and decent performance at a budget-friendly price.
The Realme 8i is a well-rounded budget smartphone that offers a compelling combination of features and performance. Its 120Hz display, long-lasting battery life, and reliable performance make it a strong contender in its price segment. While its camera performance may not be exceptional, it is adequate for casual photography. If you’re looking for a budget-friendly smartphone with a smooth display and long battery life, the Realme 8i is definitely worth considering.